English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas: Your New 20-Minute Morning Masterpiece!
Mornings can be a whirlwind, but who says breakfast has to be boring or rushed? What if you could whip up a warm, cheesy, and utterly satisfying meal that feels special, uses up common ingredients, and is ready in just 20 minutes? Enter the English Muffin Breakfast Pizza!
Imagine this: a perfectly toasted, crispy English muffin serving as your individual pizza crust. Piled high with a zesty sauce, savory sausage, tender veggies, a generous layer of gooey melted cheese, and – the best part – a perfectly cooked egg crowning each one. It’s like a tiny, personal breakfast casserole, ready almost before the coffee finishes brewing.
This recipe is a true lifesaver for busy weekdays and a fun activity for a relaxed weekend brunch. It’s incredibly versatile, highly customizable, and guaranteed to be a hit with everyone, from the pickiest eaters to the most discerning adults. Plus, the individual size makes them perfect for little hands!
Say goodbye to monotonous cereal and hello to a breakfast revolution. Get ready to turn simple ingredients into a fun, fast, and famously delicious start to your day.
Ingredients (Makes 8 mini pizzas):
Base & Sauce:
- 4 English muffins, split
- ½ cup pizza sauce (or marinara, or even plain tomato sauce seasoned with a pinch of oregano)
Toppings:
- ½ pound ground breakfast sausage (or cooked bacon, crumbled)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or a cheddar-jack blend)
- 8 large eggs
- 1 small bell pepper (any color), finely diced (optional)
- ¼ cup finely diced onion (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Fresh chives or parsley, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Equipment:
- Large baking sheet
- Large skillet (for sausage and optional veggies)
- Small non-stick pan (for frying eggs) or a large non-stick pan (for scrambling/baking eggs)
Instructions:
1. Prep Your Toppings (5 minutes):
- Cook the Sausage: In a skillet, brown the ground breakfast sausage over medium heat, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain any excess grease and set aside.
- Sauté Veggies (Optional): If using, add the diced bell pepper and onion to the same skillet (after draining sausage fat) and sauté for 3-5 minutes until softened. Combine with the cooked sausage.
2. Assemble the Muffin Bases (5 minutes):
- Preheat your broiler to high, or your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Arrange the split English muffins cut-side up on a large baking sheet.
- Lightly toast them under the broiler for 1-2 minutes until just golden (watch carefully, they can burn fast!), or in the oven for about 5 minutes. This helps ensure a crispy base.
- Remove from the broiler/oven. Spread about 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce evenly over each toasted English muffin half.
3. Layer and Cheese (3 minutes):
- Sprinkle a generous amount of the cooked sausage (and veggies, if using) over the sauce on each muffin.
- Top each with about 1 tablespoon of shredded mozzarella cheese.
4. Add the Egg (5-7 minutes):
- You have a few options for the egg, depending on preference:
- Fried Egg (classic breakfast pizza look): Heat a small non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Fry individual eggs to your desired doneness (sunny-side up, over easy, etc.). Season with salt and pepper. Gently slide one cooked egg onto each cheesy muffin.
- Scrambled Egg: Lightly scramble the 8 eggs in a bowl with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook in a non-stick pan until just set. Spoon roughly 2 tablespoons of scrambled egg onto each muffin.
- Baked Egg (for a casserole feel): Create a small well in the center of the sausage/cheese mixture on each muffin. Carefully crack one egg into the well of each muffin. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Bake and Melt (2-5 minutes):
- Return the baking sheet to the preheated 400°F (200°C) oven or under the broiler.
- If eggs are already cooked (fried/scrambled): Bake for 2-3 minutes, or broil for 1-2 minutes, just until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- If eggs are raw (baked egg option): Continue baking for 5-7 minutes, or until the egg whites are set and the yolk is cooked to your liking (still runny, jammy, or fully firm).
6. Garnish and Serve:
- Carefully remove the breakfast pizzas from the oven.
- Garnish with fresh chives or parsley, if desired.
- Serve immediately and enjoy your fast, cheesy, and utterly delicious English Muffin Breakfast Pizzas!
These mini pizzas are a testament to how simple ingredients, combined cleverly, can create a truly memorable meal. They’re fun to customize, easy to make, and sure to become a beloved part of your breakfast repertoire.